Barnstable Patriot editor moving on

BARNSTABLE — The longtime editor of The Barnstable Patriot is heading to the Cape Cod Commission as a special projects coordinator.

By ROBERT GOLD

capecodtimes.com

By ROBERT GOLD

Posted Apr. 10, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By ROBERT GOLD

Posted Apr. 10, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

BARNSTABLE — The longtime editor of The Barnstable Patriot is heading to the Cape Cod Commission as a special projects coordinator.

David Still II will help translate complex, technical databases and concepts into more understandable or visually appealing material for the public, commission Executive Director Paul Niedzwiecki said.

"We need to be able to tell a story better than how we tell a story now," said Niedzwiecki, lauding Still's connections with the community and knowledge of a "diversity of issues."

"He has a tremendous amount of integrity as a journalist," Niedzwiecki said.

Still started at the weekly newspaper nearly 24 years ago. He became editor in June 1992. He said his last day at the Patriot will be April 19.

Peter Meyer, publisher of the Patriot and its sister organization, the Cape Cod Times, said Still "served the Barnstable community with energy, distinction and skill as editor of the Patriot for years and years."

"We hate to see him leave and wish him the very best," Meyer said Tuesday. "Fortunately, David also built a talented team at the Patriot who will continue quality journalism the Barnstable community expects and deserves."

Still will start at the commission April 29.

Niedzwiecki said Still's job will also include improving the commission's social media presence and discussing commission projects with the media, local and regional officials and others.

For example, the state awarded $3.35 million to the commission last month to pay for a Capewide water quality management plan. A draft of the plan is expected to be complete within a year.

Still will be involved with public outreach on the project, Niedzwiecki said, but his role will not be limited to the issue.

The job pays nearly $59,000 a year, Still said.

Although he has been a longtime editor, Still always served as a reporter at The Barnstable Patriot, too. When he grew interested in the commission job, he stopped covering the county. The new job "seemed like a natural fit," he said.

"I like that it's Capewide," he said. "I like that it's doing a lot of the things you try to do at a weekly newspaper in that it's community building and engaging people and explaining things to help people decide things on their own."

The Patriot reported that associate editor Edward F. Maroney will act as interim editor until a successor is named.